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By SU Public Relations

SALISBURY, MD---For many adolescents, summer camp can be a fun diversion. For Kay Funderburg, it was life changing.

After spending two summers as a camp counselor, Funderburg not only reaffirmed their love of the outdoors, but realized the importance of leadership training in such endeavors. When their family moved from their native Midland, TX, to Crisfield, MD, they saw the perfect opportunity to enroll in ÃÛÌÒav’s outdoor education leadership major.

Now, they will have the chance to finish up their senior semester at SU on an even greater adventure, studying at Sweden’s Linköping University as a recipient of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

The Gilman program provides students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, helping them gain or advance proficiency in skills the Department of State deems critical to national security and economic prosperity.

“My care and interest about the environment and outdoor recreational activities started young in my life, where I grew up in [Texas’] Permian Basin, where pump jacks dot the landscape,” Funderburg said, noting that region helped shape their early love of nature. “Every longer car ride was spent looking through a book of Texas wildflowers, trying to identify what I saw out the window.

“The Eastern Shore of Maryland is an entirely different ecosystem, with farming and livestock as the key industry vs. petroleum production. The change from my childhood home and my new home is rather drastic, with the amount of rain and bodies of water. Getting to experience another side to outdoor recreation that exists here has been monumental in aiding my wider global understanding of different cultures and environmental nuances.”

Completing their degree at Linköping, an SU study abroad partner institution, Funderburg is excited to add yet another environment to their lived experiences.

“While in Sweden, I am ecstatic to discuss the difference between the American national and state park systems in comparison to the Swedish national park system, as well as to experience them for myself,” they said.

They hope to compare at least a sampling of Sweden’s 30 national parks with the national and state they have visited in the U.S., from Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico to Trap Pond State Park in Delaware. “Getting to experience firsthand how much the Swedish national parks vary across the country will be a very amazing point of discussion and learning opportunity,” they said.

Upon returning, Funderburg plans to pass on their knowledge as a speaker at local Girl Scout troops, helping members understand that the skills they learn in scouting often are transferable to higher education and the wider world. They also hope to speak at a Girl Scouts World Thinking Day event, which allows scouts to learn about other nations and cultures that participate in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, and encourage troop members to consider furthering their education at SU and take advantage of programs like the Gilman.

After their expected graduation from SU in December 2025, Funderburg is considering pursuing a master’s degree in development studies, an interdisciplinary field examining societal change and social and economic development, which they believe also will help prepare them for a career in outdoor leadership.

Until then, however, they still have time to pursue additional opportunities through SU’s Nationally Competitive Fellowship Office. Currently, they have their sights set on a Fulbright Student Award, the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international exchange program for students, and possibly a Marshall Scholarship, which allows recent college graduates of high ability to study for a degree in the UK.

SU students or alumni interested in applying for the Gilman, Fulbright, Marshall or other national and international fellowships should complete an or contact Dr. Kristen Walton, director of the SU Nationally Competitive Fellowships Office for assistance. For more information, visit the Nationally Competitive Fellowships Office webpage.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at the SU website.